Mary Jo Vesper, PhD, has been named director of UC's Institutional Review Board (IRB), effective Jan. 1. Dr. Vesper, who previously had served as chair of the university's Social and Behavioral Sciences IRB, will be responsible for overall management of UC's two biomedical IRBs and one social and behavioral sciences IRB. Prior to joining UC, Dr. Vesper was dean of Bellarmine University's College of Arts and Sciences. She also has served as an associate dean in the University of Dayton's College of Arts and Sciences and was a member of the University of Louisville's medical IRB. Dr. Vesper earned her doctorate in biological sciences from Ohio State University. Her research interests include hormonal regulation in vascular plants and molecular pathobiology of fungi.

Concerts in the Lobby

UC and University Hospital (UH) will host a series of concerts throughout January for patients, visitors and employees in UH's main lobby. Organized by David Stern, MD, dean of the College of Medicine, in collaboration with James Kingsbury, executive director at University Hospital and Douglas Lowry, dean of UC's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), the next "Concert in the Lobby" is at noon Monday, Jan. 9. Dr. Stern will perform on his clarinet with the Baur Quartet, a group of CCM graduate students. All are welcome to attend.

Harvard Professor to Discuss T-Cell Leukemia Friday

A. Thomas Look, MD, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and vice chair for research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will discuss "Emerging Genetics of T-Cell Leukemia: The Role of Notch Signaling" from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 6, in the Vontz Center for Molecular Studies. The event, part of the UC Cancer Center Seminar Series, is free and open to all. Continuing medical education credits are available. For more information, contact Amy Itescu at (513) 558-1284 or amy.itescu@uc.edu.

UC All-Campus Winter Blood Drive

Hoxworth Blood Center will hold an all-campus winter blood drive Jan. 9-13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tangeman University Center. All UC students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are appreciated. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (513) 451-0910 or e-mail comments@hoxworth.org.

MLK Ceremony Features Freedom Center President

Spencer Crew, PhD, president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, will deliver the keynote address during the Academic Health Center's 34th Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Memorial Ceremony to be held at noon Friday, Jan. 13, in Kresge Auditorium. The event, cosponsored by the Health Alliance, LabOne and the Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater Cincinnati and Vicinity, will begin with a memorial march and wreath laying at 10:45 a.m. at the MLK memorial on the corner of Reading Road and MLK Boulevard. Annie Ruth, author and artist, will serve as the event's emcee, and entertainment will be provided by the Martin Luther King Choir, made up of Academic Health Center, LabOne and Health Alliance employees. Winners of the 2006 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarships will also be announced. For more information, call (513) 558-6052.

Call for Applications

Applications from new investigators who have not yet received extramural research support are now being sought for an American Cancer Society Institutional Research grant, recently awarded to the university. The award will support three to four new investigators at the instructor and assistant professor levels by providing one-year, $15,000 to $20,000 grants. Application forms can be obtained by e-mailing Katie Gouge at kathleen.gouge@uc.eduand must be returned to Gouge by Jan. 31. Grants will be evaluated by an expert panel. Applicants will be notified of results at the end of February.

CORRECTION: UC Med Mentors Fundraiser Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.

UC Med Mentors' magic show fundraiser will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Kresge Auditorium. This replaces any other published dates and times. The event features the magical talents of Randall Wolf, MD, professor of surgery and biomedical engineering, and his children. Admission is by donation only at the door. All UC faculty, staff and students are invited to attend. Event proceeds will help fund the activities of UC Med Mentors, a group of 130 medical students who mentor Cincinnati Public School children. For more information, e-mail Wan Lim, PhD, at wan.lim@uc.edu.